Men’s mental health is serious
By: Samuel Smith, Columnist
This article discusses mental health and suicide.
According to Mental Health America, over 6 million men suffer from depression, and over 3 million men have some sort of phobia or panic disorder. Yet the face of mental health is usually a white woman. Why are men not talking about this?
We were conditioned to have a boys don’t cry type of mentality from a young age. This means, rather than talking about our feelings, we bottle them up. Rather than cry, we can sometimes become aggressive. This isn’t healthy and it’s literally killing us. According to Psychology Today, every 20 minutes, another man takes his life. This needs to stop. What can we do?
Check up on your brothers, your father and your friends. Even the happiest of guys can be suffering, and a simple text such as “You okay? I’m here to talk” can help change or save a life. Know the signs of depression, such as:
- Loss of appetite or increased appetite
- Withdrawal
- Low mood
- Guilt/hopelessness
- Loss of interest in doing things you usually enjoy
And get help if you notice these signs. If you notice these in your friend or friends, encourage them to get help, whether that’s talking to a doctor or talking to a therapist.
Talk about it. Talk about mental illness with your peers or family. Normalize talking about mental health.
Finally, take care of yourself. Finals are coming up, there’s a lot of projects due soon and it can be a stressful time with the holiday season coming up. Take some time to yourself. Do a face mask. Play video games. Crank up your music. Do what makes you feel happy, calm and in-tune with yourself. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
man this article hits hard… people really underestimate how much mental stress wrecks your body. i’ve been dealing with crazy anxiety from work lately and it literally started affecting my physical health, like zero energy and severe ED issues. it’s a vicious circle because the physical stuff makes the depression even worse. does anyone know a good men’s health clinic in Atlanta that actually looks at both sides? like someone who understands how stress affects your testosterone and performance? i’m in ATL and really need to find a place that gets it.
Adam so true man. physical and mental health are 100% connected. when your mind is stressed your body just shuts down. i’m glad people are finally talking about this stuff. don’t lose hope brother, getting your hormone levels checked is definitely a good first step.
@Adam_Atlanta i know exactly what you mean… went through a brutal divorce last year and my mental health was trash, which completely destroyed my confidence and performance. a buddy recommended Choice Men’s Health clinic https://choicemenshealth.com/ to me and they were awesome. they are based in Atlanta and they actually specialize in this stuff. they check your T levels, blood flow, everything, and they actually listen to you instead of just rushing you out the door. getting my physical health back on track actually helped my mental state a ton too. definitely worth giving them a call.”